Virtual CD Track Seventeen: Frozen in Time
Here's the first new music from me in 2010... Written and recorded last weekend!
Download Virtual CD Track Seventeen: Frozen In Time
The origins of this track were a general desire to connect my HandSonic to my computer and play around with synth sounds through MIDI. I have so many virtual synths on my computer, and I love gadgets.... The basic drum track is a modified loop that came out of that. The first version was a cheesy-sounding synth-pop thing that was going nowhere.
After realizing that the basic "groove" had potential, I eliminated most of the synths I had recorded, leaving only the drums and the squelchy-sounding bass synth that's still there. Because the drums were recorded with MIDI, I was able to experiment with different sound samples for each note. I actually ended using samples of my acoustic drum kit. In fact, the drum sounds were from the recording session for the Ascent song, "Indigo." I intended to replace this mechanical-sounding groove with an actual drum kit performance, but I decided that it wouldn't necessarily sound better, so I left it alone. Plus, it tickled me that the HandSonic was playing my acoustic kit sounds.
The piano was the next thing to come. The sound is the Truepiano Amber VST, with two layers of echo added. To be honest, my rudimentary piano playing just sounds cooler this way! I realized that I had used this piano-with-echo effect years ago on my "Cat's Cradle" CD.... but I figured I'd risk repeating myself since that CD didn't necessarily suffer from overplay on the world stage! ...I think my original inspiration for the rhythmically echoing piano is from a Pete Townshend song, but hopefully I use it differently.
The guitars and bass were recorded using Guitar Rig 3. This allows me to experiment at length with the sounds after they are recorded. I actually added the wah-wah to the lead guitar after it was recorded, by manually sliding the little slider in the software. Kind of fun! I recorded about ten times as much lead guitar as I ended up keeping. Some of it was pretty crazy! You still get a taste of that in the middle. When I got close to the final edit, I realized that I'd already made my point by the middle of the track, so let most of it go.
I think this track sounds very typical of me. I didn't necessarily stretch myself, but I had fun. Many of my old tricks are in evidence here. Probably I should have given up Phrygian mode for New Year's, but now it's too late! I'll have to wait until 2011!
Please let me know your thoughts....
Download Virtual CD Track Seventeen: Frozen In Time
The origins of this track were a general desire to connect my HandSonic to my computer and play around with synth sounds through MIDI. I have so many virtual synths on my computer, and I love gadgets.... The basic drum track is a modified loop that came out of that. The first version was a cheesy-sounding synth-pop thing that was going nowhere.
After realizing that the basic "groove" had potential, I eliminated most of the synths I had recorded, leaving only the drums and the squelchy-sounding bass synth that's still there. Because the drums were recorded with MIDI, I was able to experiment with different sound samples for each note. I actually ended using samples of my acoustic drum kit. In fact, the drum sounds were from the recording session for the Ascent song, "Indigo." I intended to replace this mechanical-sounding groove with an actual drum kit performance, but I decided that it wouldn't necessarily sound better, so I left it alone. Plus, it tickled me that the HandSonic was playing my acoustic kit sounds.
The piano was the next thing to come. The sound is the Truepiano Amber VST, with two layers of echo added. To be honest, my rudimentary piano playing just sounds cooler this way! I realized that I had used this piano-with-echo effect years ago on my "Cat's Cradle" CD.... but I figured I'd risk repeating myself since that CD didn't necessarily suffer from overplay on the world stage! ...I think my original inspiration for the rhythmically echoing piano is from a Pete Townshend song, but hopefully I use it differently.
The guitars and bass were recorded using Guitar Rig 3. This allows me to experiment at length with the sounds after they are recorded. I actually added the wah-wah to the lead guitar after it was recorded, by manually sliding the little slider in the software. Kind of fun! I recorded about ten times as much lead guitar as I ended up keeping. Some of it was pretty crazy! You still get a taste of that in the middle. When I got close to the final edit, I realized that I'd already made my point by the middle of the track, so let most of it go.
I think this track sounds very typical of me. I didn't necessarily stretch myself, but I had fun. Many of my old tricks are in evidence here. Probably I should have given up Phrygian mode for New Year's, but now it's too late! I'll have to wait until 2011!
Please let me know your thoughts....
Posted by Bruce Baldwin at 1/27/2010 8:31 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: bruce baldwin creative process guitar Free mp3 2010
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: bruce baldwin creative process guitar Free mp3 2010
Fantastic guitar sounds and playing. I dig the percussion breakdown kind of thingy around the 2 minute mark too.
Who's the guy with the talking?
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Eric and Art,
Thanks very much for your quick and kind feedback! It's very gratifying to know that people are listening right away. I played the percussion bits in the middle using Indian percussion sounds on the Handsonic. I'm a big fan of tabla sounds, though I know what I'm playing isn't really the "proper" way to play. One day I hope to get around to studying it and learning it for real. As for the voice, I'm always trolling around on the Internet looking for interesting sound clips I can use out of context. This one just fit the mood. I think it's the same guy who says "marsupials and mammals and flying birds." Most of the voice samples I've used on these online tracks are also at my immediate disposal when I play live, as are many more. I find it fascinating how they change character depending on how they're deployed in the music.
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I like the new sound for the new year. The drum beats and piano compliment the song perfectly and give the song good direction. Keep up the good work brother!!!
Art
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Bruce, I dig this tune!! Very eclectic (in my novice opinion). The guitar makes the track. I found myself grooving in the chair as I listened. Well done.
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